Trinseo is a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber. Formerly a part of The Dow Chemical Company, Trinseo was relying on Dow for much of its EH&S resources, work process and systems support, even after the spin-off.
As part of a company-wide effort to replace services provided by Dow, Trinseo needed to develop independent EH&S processes, systems and capabilities. Trinseo’s objective was to maintain world-class EH&S and operational performance throughout the transition and beyond, manage stakeholder expectations and meet key performance metrics.
ERM was already serving as a strategic EH&S consulting partner to Trinseo, assisting them in designing and implementing an innovative behavioral safety program called Safety on Purpose. The success of this program gave Trinseo the confidence to utilize ERM with their EH&S transition.
ERM’s expertise in EH&S processes and systems was critical in helping Trinseo select the right technology platform and to design our organization for the future. Trinseo had a unique window to select the tools and processes that will be used for years to come, and having ERM as our partner gave us confidence and enabled a flawless transition.
Partnering with ERM
ERM partnered with Trinseo’s EH&S leadership team to design and stand up a thoughtfully expanded EH&S function, services and tools to serve the business and future growth ambitions.
The work began with a co-discover phase, where time was spent with Trinseo’s EH&S function to understand needs and requirements and identify key stakeholders. End users were introduced into the process early in order to capture their insights and requirements. ERM worked with Trinseo to help them prioritize requirements, analyze commercially available EH&S software tools and ultimately select a fit-for-purpose technology solution. A holistic service offering was provided, bringing in our experts in change management, digital services, product stewardship and other areas to provide insights and solutions.
Once the co-discover phase was completed, the co-design phase began - a collaboration that combined both designing the corporate EH&S function and building the EH&S work processes and capabilities, utilizing an agile approach. Implementation was centered on building Trinseo’s capacity to maintain the EH&S function, with a focus on training and change management for existing and new roles.
Ultimately, through this collaboration ERM helped Trinseo optimize stakeholder involvement through launching clear and compelling communications, generating user enthusiasm and supporting a seamless transition.
Looking to the future
This integrated approach also helped Trinseo’s EH&S function clearly articulate the group’s vision, plan, and value within the overall organization - creating strong buy-in and alignment with key stakeholders across the enterprise.
This enables Trinseo to more readily drive continuous improvement, plan for growth and make and deliver products to market, knowing EH&S regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations are met.
